Mechanical Applications Engineer – Chesterfield, VA

Location: Chesterfield, VA
Job Type: Full-Time
Starting Salary: $95,000/year — higher depending on experience
Schedule: 9/80 schedule with every other Friday off
Travel: Approximately 10%

Seeking a senior-level Mechanical Applications Engineer to develop and support specialized heavy equipment and mechanical systems. This role combines mechanical design, applications engineering, project coordination, customer interaction, manufacturing support, and field troubleshooting.

The engineer will take projects from initial concept through design, production, testing, deployment, and ongoing product support. Experience with heavy equipment, cranes, mobile equipment, or industrial machinery is highly valued.

What You'll Do

Mechanical Design & Engineering

• Develop new mechanical equipment and modify existing designs.
• Create practical solutions through CAD modeling, reverse engineering, redesign, prototyping, and field testing.
• Perform engineering calculations and use Finite Element Analysis (FEA) to validate designs.
• Improve equipment performance, manufacturability, serviceability, reliability, and cost.
• Maintain standard equipment designs and related engineering documentation.
• Prepare drawings, calculations, bills of materials, and design records.

Applications & Project Management

• Manage engineering projects from concept through manufacturing, testing, implementation, and lifecycle support.
• Coordinate with customers, vendors, suppliers, manufacturing, operations, and other engineering teams.
• Support equipment rebuilds and refurbishment projects, including inspections, repair planning, upgrades, testing, and delivery.
• Help ensure equipment meets customer specifications, engineering requirements, safety standards, and applicable regulations.
• Manage multiple projects and changing priorities while maintaining project schedules.

Field & Customer Support

• Work directly with customers to understand technical requirements and resolve engineering issues.
• Provide troubleshooting, field inspections, and on-site technical support.
• Assist with emergency response and field operations when needed.
• Travel to customer sites, vendor locations, and field projects as required.
• Support manufacturing and field teams during equipment testing, installation, and deployment.

Required Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related engineering discipline.
Proficiency with SolidWorks or comparable parametric CAD software.
Working knowledge of FEA and the ability to verify results through engineering calculations.
Understanding of mechanical design principles, manufacturing processes, and engineering documentation.
Strong analytical, project management, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
Excellent written and verbal communication abilities.
Comfortable working directly with customers and cross-functional teams.
Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities independently.
Valid driver's license.
Willingness to travel approximately 10%.

Preferred Experience

EIT or PE certification.
CSWA or CSWP SolidWorks certification.
Experience designing or supporting heavy equipment, cranes, mobile equipment, or industrial machinery.
Knowledge of hydraulic and electrical systems.
Experience taking products from engineering through manufacturing and field deployment.
Familiarity with OSHA, ASME, AWS, AAR, or other applicable industry standards.

Work Environment

Combination of office, manufacturing, and field environments.
Occasional climbing on equipment during inspections, testing, and troubleshooting.
Ability to lift tools, components, or equipment weighing up to 50 lbs.
Ability to sit, stand, walk, and communicate throughout the workday.
May require extended hours or emergency response outside normal working hours.
Must be able to work safely around industrial equipment and active field operations.